Want to know a secret? Cork’sGougane Barra Forest Park is hiding the prettiest little church you will ever see. Right by a lake sits St Finbarr's Oratory, close to a former 6th century monastery. Unsurprisingly, this little church is a popular wedding location. Just look at those views...and think of the wedding album.

Location: Gougane Barra Forest Park is located 3 miles west of Ballingeary on the R584 to Bantry, at the Pass of Keimaneigh.

This quirky structure was built in 1743. Its purpose? Proprietor Katherine Conolly (wealthy widow of William ‘Speaker’ Conolly) commissioned the oddity to create employment for the local community. Approximately 22m/72ft high, the barn has a tapering cone, encircled by a cantilevered staircase with a crow’s nest viewing gallery.

Location: Exit the M4 at R404, heading towards Leixlip and take the first left turn. Follow the road until the end.

If the Blasket Islands weren’t glorious enough, they’re accessed via this remarkable spot. Once a natural harbor from which the Blasket Islanders would launch their currachs (traditional boats), Dunquin provided a life-giving link to the mainland. Since those days Dunquin’s harbor has been remodelled and its winding path juts starkly out of the cliff face. Nearby beaches featured in the film Ryan’s Daughter, and famed Irish language author Peig Sayers was a native of the village.

Location: Follow the R559 from nearby Dingle to Dunquin (‘Dún Chaoin’ in Irish).

This curious Clapper Bridge was built for pedestrians and is the largest complete clapper bridge in Ireland at 50m/164ft long. The design dates back to prehistoric times, however, this example is not so old. It’s thought the recently settled Church of Ireland community created Bunlahinch’s version in the 1840s.

Location: Seven miles west of Louisburg village, County Mayo along the Bunowen River.

A watery heart of the Mourne Mountains, the Silent Valley reservoir has become an attraction in its own right. Surrounded by the Mourne Mountains and the Mourne Wall, the valley is a magnet for busy minds yearning for solitude. Keep a look out for the visitor facilities housed in colonial style bungalows where you can relax following a peaceful walk around the parklands.

The north Antrim coast, a.k.a. the Causeway Coast, boasts some epic sights. One of the unsung heroes, though, has to be Dunseverick Castle. Although it’s merely a crumbling ruin now, Dunseverick’s location on top of a peninsula adds a gravitas worthy of a potential future location for locally filmed Game of Thrones. Fantasy adventure aside, the castle has already had an eventful past: St Patrick allegedly visited in the 5th century; a Viking invasion came to its door in 870 AD; and it was captured and destroyed in the 1600s. The fact that the gate lodge survived at all is quite a miracle.

Location: Found close to Dunseverick village, just off the Causeway Coastal Route.

The quirkiest entry has been saved for last. The ‘magic road’ aka the gravity-defying road is legendary in Irish folklore. Travel writer and actor Andrew McCarthy was determined to find it. Watch what happened here…

Location: You'll have to consult the video!

And if that doesn’t make you believe in magic, we don’t know what will!

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